The National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Nigeria has announced plans to commence a nationwide verification and revalidation of coaching certificates. This initiative, set to begin on January 4, 2027, aims to authenticate qualifications and strengthen the credibility of its certification system. The exercise, which will run for three months until March 4, 2027, is part of efforts to establish accurate records of qualified coaches and improve confidence in professional qualifications issued by the institution.
According to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIS, Philip Shaibu, the revalidation exercise is crucial for updating existing documentation and ensuring that certificates presented for official and professional purposes are properly authenticated. Coaches who have undergone training at the NIS will be required to visit the Institute’s Abuja office for verification of their certificates. This process is expected to help the Institute establish a credible database of trained coaches across the country.
Ahead of the nationwide exercise, Shaibu inaugurated a committee to oversee the verification process. The committee, chaired by the Institute’s Registrar, Belmond Benson, will be responsible for laying the necessary groundwork to ensure a smooth and effective verification process. The committee's tasks include organizing existing records, making necessary preparations, and establishing arrangements required for the exercise to commence as scheduled.
The committee will review the Institute’s available records and put in place procedures for authenticating certificates presented by coaches. The exercise is also expected to improve accountability within the coaching profession by ensuring that credentials presented by practitioners can be checked against the Institute’s records. This move is part of efforts to promote professionalism and protect the integrity of qualifications issued by the National Institute for Sports.
Under the proposed guidelines, coaching certificates that have not been validated will not be recognized by agencies within and outside Nigeria. This measure aims to strengthen the reliability of qualifications awarded to coaches trained by the NIS. The requirement for coaches to appear at the Abuja office is central to the planned process, although further details on documentation requirements, fees, or arrangements for coaches who may be unable to attend in person have not been provided.
The initiative forms part of efforts by the Shaibu-led administration to strengthen institutional standards and promote professionalism in the sports sector. Properly trained coaches are essential to athlete development, technical competence, and the growth of competitive sports. With the committee now inaugurated, the Institute is expected to focus on preparations ahead of the January 4 commencement date.
The announcement was signed by Ben Ogbemudia, Special Assistant on Media in the Office of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Abuja. The verification exercise is a significant step towards ensuring that coaching certificates issued by the NIS are authentic and reliable, ultimately contributing to the development of sports in Nigeria.
Key points
- The National Institute for Sports will commence a nationwide verification and revalidation of coaching certificates on January 4, 2027.
- The exercise aims to authenticate qualifications, strengthen the credibility of the certification system, and establish accurate records of qualified coaches.
- Coaching certificates that have not been validated will not be recognized by agencies within and outside Nigeria.
